Kid-Friendly Foods for Holiday Parties

Let’s face it, kids can be picky eaters. However, that doesn’t mean you have to give up the tasty holiday foods you love. If you’re entertaining, you might just want to offer a few alternatives for the 12 and under crowd. We’ve got a complete menu of no-fuss alternatives for the kids (but good luck keeping the adults away from these).

Trail Mixin’ Treat: Have each kid decorate a plastic bag with holiday stickers. Then set out bowls of cereal, dried fruit and other treats taking up space in your pantry and let each child make their own trail mix to snack on until dinner.

Edible Evergreen: Kids will want to eat veggies when they’re shaped like a Christmas tree. Cut a head of broccoli into florets and spear each stalk with a toothpick. Stick them into a Styrofoam cone until the entire surface is covered. Then use the same technique to add “ornaments” like cherry tomatoes, carrots and bell peppers. Provide a bowl of snow (commonly known as ranch dressing) for dipping.

Mini Main Course: Here’s a twist on meatball sliders. Turn puff pastry into fun shapes with the holiday cookie cutter of your choice like a gingerbread man or star, then cook according to the directions on the package. Use a toothpick to secure it to the top of cooked meatballs. Finally, give it holiday color by drizzling with pesto or marinara.

Something on the Side: Peel potatoes and slice them width-wise. Now get out those cookie cutters again and create fun holiday shapes. Toss with olive oil and the herbs and spices of your choosing, then roast them in the oven as you normally would.

Hot Cocoa Companion: Have kids create edible snowmen by sticking three marshmallows onto a wooden skewer. Then get creative like a licorice scarf, pretzel arms and a peanut butter cup hat. Use an edible marker (found anywhere cake decorating supplies are sold) to draw on a face and buttons. These go great with hot chocolate.

Final Tip: Give drinks the holiday touch. Use red food coloring to dye water, then fill ice cube trays halfway and freeze completely. Fill them the rest of the way with green food coloring, freeze, and you’ve got two-toned ice cubes. Mix water with diced mint or shaved peppermint and freeze to give the adult drinks some festive flair, too.